Loading machine



W. WILLCOX.

LOADING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, 1920.

Mme

1 m m 9 0 m 8 G SHEETS--SHEET Patented Oct. 10, 1922.

W. WILLCOX LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 20. 1920.

Patented Oct. 10, 1922.

GSHEETS-SHEE] 2.

I 4.. T I

W. WILLCOX.

LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 20; 1920.

Patented Oct. 10,1922.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

W. WILLCOX.

LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00120, I920,

1A8L857. Patented Oct. 10, 1922.

6 SHEEFS SHEET 4.

W. WILLCOX.

LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, 1920.

Patented 0012. 192,

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

W. WILLCOX.

LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. I920.

1,431, 57, Patented Oct. 10,1922.

6 SHEETS- SHEET 6.

atented Get. 10, 1922.

UlTED STATES WILLIAM WILLCOX, OF CAMP CHASE, OHIO.

LOADING MACHINE.

Application flied October 20, 1920. seriaino. 418,166.

To all whom it my camera:

Be it known .that I, WILLIAM Wrnncox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Camp Chase, Franklin County, State ofv A further object resides in so constructing the machine that the parts thereof are carried on a truck adapted to travel on the mine tracks, and in providing controls for the machine by\ which the truck is propelled in and out alongthe tracks.

A still further object lies in arranging a carriage upon the truck upon which elevatlng and loading conveyor structure is mounted, which carriage is adapted to travel independently of movement of the truck to give better control andgreater efliciency in operation.

Still another object of the invention is to so construct and arran e the parts that during the operation of tie machine coal will be loaded into a mine car stationed in the mine track in the rear of the loading machine, and will be evenly distributed within the mine car.

\Vith these and other objects in view, which will be apparent from the specificatlon, drawings, and claims, this invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will he set forth.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a loading machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the machine as it will appear in use, and illustrating by dotted lines the relative position of a mine car.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pivoted frame.

F1g. 5 is a plan view showing the truck by which the pivoted frame is carried.

F1g. 6 1s a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the carriage.

Fig. 7 is-a plan view of the carriage, with the motor removed, and with parts insection to better disclose the operatingmechal nism.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view to better show the breaker-head and elevating conveyor.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detail view showing a modified form of drive for the breaker-head.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view to better show the structure, of the shoe raising and lowermg brace.

ig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevationlooking from the side opposite to the disclosure in Fig. 1, tobetter show the conve or drive connections. V

ig. 14 is a detail of the conveyor structure. Y

The machine is adapted to travel and work upon the mine tracks, and with this end in view the truck 1 has the carrying wheels 2 and 3 on the axles 4 and 5 thereof spaced for the gauge of mine tracks 6. The truck 1 has braces and cross-braces constructed therein to provide a supporting frame, and at its forward end the truck is shaped on an arc, and is provided with an arced rack 7. A pivot bearing 8 is provided on the supporting frame structur of the truck and is centered within th s arced rack 7. J

A frame made up of the side bars 9 and 10, preferably of channel iron, and the crossbars 11 and 12 has a bearing extension 13 mounted in bearing 8 on the truck 1, and this frame is thus pivoted to be swung to the two extreme ositions as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. A spur gear .14 is mounted in bearing 15 on the ivoted frame in mesh with the arced rack ot the truck, and by revolving the spur gear, the pivoted frame is swung to one side or the other.

The carriage 16, the construction of which is best shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, is mounted on the side bars 9 and 10 of the pivoted frame for sliding movement along the length thereof, hook-flanges 17 and 18 being provided at the sides of the carriage to hold the A in either direction or to lock thesame side-bars 9 and 10 against spreading. motor 19, which can be connected to receive current from any suitable source, is mounted on the carriage 16 at an elevation above the floor thereof. This motor has a spur gear 20 on one end of the armature shaft, and a worm 2-1 is fixed on the remaining end.

An elevating conveyor 22 is mounted on the carriage 16 and extends forwardly and downwardly between the-side bars of the pivoted frame, a shoe 23 being carried at the lower end of the elevating conveyor. brace 24, best shown in Fig. 12, hasa hollow sleeve 25 provided with a fork 26 spreading out at one end to be connected at the side of shoe 23, and a threaded stem 27, telescopically received in sleeve 25, has a fork 28 at its outer end which is connected on bearings 29 at the side of carriage 16.

. Elevating conveyor 22 is pivoted in its mounting carriage, and a hand wheel 30,

provided with a threaded central orifice, is received on the threaded stem 27 to abut against the end of sleeve 25, by which arrangement the base 24 is lengthened and shortened to raise and lower the shoe and consequently the receiving end of conveyor 22. A hopper 31. is pivotally mounted on carriage 16 to receive the material as discharged from the elevating conveyor, and reloading conveyor 32 is adapted to take the material from this hopper.

Motor 19 is the sole power and driving unit for the machine, and to impart power to operating parts upon the pivoted frame, a squared shaft 33 is 1ournaled upon the side bar 10 parallel with the path of movement of carriage 16, a worm gear 34 meshing with worm 21 on the armature shaft being provided with a squared opening to slide upon shaft 31. Bearings 35 associated with the carriage or motor casing hold worm gear 34 in proper mesh with the worm. A power 'shaft 36 is journaled at the rear end of the pivoted frame, and has a bevel gear 37 thereon meshing with a gear 38 on shaft 39, which shaft is connected with shaft 33, by a universal joint 40. This power shaft 36 imparts traveling movement to the truck and also supplies power to revolve spur gear 14 for pivotally swinging on the frame, these power and driving connections bein best shown in Figs. 4- and 5. The shaft 41, on which spur gear 14 is mounted, has a worm gear 42 secured thereon, and a shaft 43 extending from the rear of the pivoted frame forwardly to a worm 44 meshin with this worm gear. A bevel gear 45 is xed on the rear end of shaft 43, and in position to mesh with gears 46 and 47 splined on shaft 36. By means of a yoke 48 and hand lever 49, these gear wheels 46 and 47 are selectively meshed with gear 45, or may be disengaged therefrom, to cause rotation of spur gear 14 A shaft 36. These gears 57 and 58 are moved into and out of mesh with gear 56 by means of a yoke 59 and a hand lever 60. A shaft 61 revolubly mounted on the frame structure of truck 1 hasa worm gear 62 in mesh with worm 52, and at its ends is geared to revolve shafts 63 and 64. Gear wheels 65 and 66 are secured on axles 4-and 5 and pinions 67 and 68 on shafts 63 and 64 mesh therewith. By this power connection the wheels 2 and 3 are revolved in either direction to propel the truck forwardly or backwardly along the mine tracks, and worm gear 62, meshing with the worm 52, will act as a brake to hold the wheels against turning except under power.

A shaft 69 is journaled, in suitable bearings provided on the car 16, and has a gear wheel 70 thereon in mesh with the spur gear 20 on the motor shaft. A shaft 71, also journaled transversely on the carriage 16, has spur gears 72 and 73 at its ends, these spur gears being within the channel of the side bars 9 and 10 of the pivoted frame. Racks 74 and 75 are provided beneath the top flanges of the side bars, and thespus gears mesh therewith after the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 8. By this arrangement the carriage is moved forwardly and back upon the pivoted frame as shaft 71 is turned. A worm gear 76, having a clutch hub is loosely mounted on one end of shaft 71, and a similar worm gear 77 is carried at the opposite end. A shaft 78 has a worm 7 9 thereon in mesh with worm gear 76, and at its remaining end has a bevel gear 80 meshing with bevel gear 81 on shaft 69. A

shaft 82 is driven from shaft 69 through worm 83 and worm gear 84, to turn in a direction opposite to the revolution of shaft 78, and this shaft 82 has a worm 85 in mesh with worm gear 77. A clutch member 86 is shaft 105.

flanges of side-bars 9 and 10 insures against cured on the motor 19 being positioned to receive the circular upper edge of the hop per 31 and to retain the proper elevation of loading conveyor 32.

Operating power is transmitted to the loadlng conveyor from a shaft 91 through sprockets 92 and 93, having a sprocket chain 94 thereon, and as this shaft 91 swings with respect to the carriage a direct power connection from shaft 69 cannot be made.

A stub shaft 95 is journaled at the axle center of bearing 89, and has the large and small gear wheels 96 and 97 thereon, a gear 98 being fixed on shaft 91 in mesh with the small gear. A shaft 99 j ournaled in suitable bearings on carriage 16 has a' bevel gear 100 in mesh with gear 96, and this shaft is constantly revolved through the medium of worm gear 101 meshing with gear 102 on shaft 69.

Conveyor 22 is operated from a sprocket wheel 103 on the motor shaft, as shown in Fig. 13.

As-shown in Fig. 9, the'shoe 23 extends beyond the receiving end of elevating conveyor 22, and abreaker shaft 104 is journaled thereacross parallel with conveyor This breaker shaft has the bit holes 106 fixed thereon, and bits 107 are held in place by set screw 108. Shaft 105 is revolved by operation of the elevating conveyor, and breaker shaft 104 may be revolved.through a sprocket chain 109 received upon sprocket wheels 110 and l11,'on the shafts 104 and 105. As shown in Fig. 10, it is preferable that the breaker shaft 104 be extended at each side beyond the sides of the shoe,,and that a bit holder and bit be fitted on this extended end. The shoe 23, which may be a single casting, or may be built up to the desired form, is given swinging mounting on the lower end of conveyor 22, by a bearing member 112, and a stop 113 is provided to limit upward swinging movement of the shoe. While the chain drive for the breaker shaft is perhaps desirable, some conditions of operation may dictate the use of gearing, and a gear drive may be accomplished after the manner shown in Fig. 11, where the gears 114 and 115. on shafts 104 and 105 mesh with an intermediate gear 116.

The elevating and loading conveyors may be of any desired construction, although I have found that the form of conveyor illustrated in Figs. "9 and14 is eflicient in operation. As here shown, the conveyor sprockets 117 have sprocket chains 118 received there on, the flanged conveyor leaves 119 being connected at their ends on lugs 120, formed on each of the len ths of conveyor chains 118. It is prefera le that a floor 121 be provided beneath the material carrying run on each conveyor, as more eflicient operation will be obtained, and also it is desirable that tensioning means be provided foreach conveyor as'at 122.

It is preferable that the loading conveyor 7 32 terminate in a horizontally extending portion disposed, as shown in Fig. 2, at a height to clear the coal car, illustrated by the dotted lines at 123, and of a length equal to or slightly longer than the coal car. In the use of my improved loader, the current to motor 19 is turned on, and hand lever 60 is adjusted to mesh the gears in a proper propelling'relation to move the truck along the mine. tracks 6 to the point where coal is to be loaded. The propelling power is then shut off and hand lever 49 is manipulated to swing the pivoted frame and to consequently 'shift the loading shoe and elevate the-conshove the loa i-ng shoe" underneath the pile of coal, after the manner sho wn in F ig. 2. The bits of the breaker head work through the pile of materlal causing the same to be loosened so that it will be taken up by the flanged leaves of conveyor 22, and at the same time these bits clear the path for continuous forward travel of the shoe. material taken up by the elevating conveyor The is discharged into hopper 31, from which it v I is taken by loading conveyor 32. The coal car 123 is placed so that the conveyor 32 discharges into the rear end thereof, and as carriage 16 moves forward the coal will be loaded into the car and distributed toward the forward end. By manipulation of hand lever 88 to move the carriage forward and back, and by shifting hand lever '49 to radially position the pivoted frame, material can be loaded from any angle through sub stantially one-half of a circle, extreme positions to which the pivoted. frame may be swung being indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. When the material is being taken at a wide angle to one side the truck may show a tendenc to tilt, and this may be prevented by bracing from the roof with pipe jacks fitted in bearings 124 or 125 of the truck 1. While I have herein shown and describe one particular embodiment of the invention and have set forth only certain pomible modifications, it will be appreciated that other changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts, without departing \Vhat I claim is:

1. A loading machine including a truck, a carriagemounted for reciprocating movement, an elevating conveyor carried by and extending forwardly from the carriage, and

' a breaker head at the receiving end of said conveyor. I

2. A- loading machine including a truck, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement, an elevating conveyor carried by and extending forwardly from the carriage, a shoe mounted at the receiving end of said conveyor, a breaker head mounted on'said shoe to agitate material in advance of the conveyor, and an adjustable brace for raising and lowering, said conveyor.

3. A loading" machine including a truck, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement, an elevating conveyor mounted on said carriage by which the material to be loaded is taken up, a hopper pivoted vertically on the carriage into which the elevating conveyor discharges, and a loading-conveyor carried by the pivoted hopper taking the material from said hopper extending to discharge to the point of loading.

4. A loadin'g machine adapted for loading to-a car located adjacent the machine including a truck, a carriage mounted for advancin'g and return movement, an elevating conveyor mounted on said carria e to take "up material as the carriage is a vanced, a hopper on the carriage into which the elevating conveyor discharges, and a loading conveyor associated with said hopper to take the material from the hopper and 'to load and distribute the material Within the car as the carriage is advanced.

5. A loading machine including a truck, a

frame pivoted on said truck for radial ad-* frame, anelevating conveyor carried by and extending forwardly from the'carriage, a hopper pivotally mounted. on the carriage beneath the discharge end of the elevating conveyor, and a loading conveyor associated with said hopper and taking the material therefrom.

6. A loading machine including a truck, a pivot bearing, an arced rack formed about said bearing, a frame including spaced side bars pivotally mounted in said bearing, a carriage mounted on saidside bars for slid ing movement along the length thereof, an elevating conveyor carried by and extending forwardly from the carriage between said side bars, a loading conveyor pivoted vertically on the carriage and extending rearwardly from the discharge end of said elevating conveyor, means to advance said carriage along the length of tliepivoted frame to take up material, and means on said pivoted frame engaging'in the rack of the truck to swing said pivot frame. and consequently vary the radial angle at which said elevating conveyor is advanced from a truck.

7 A loading machine including a truck adapted to travel upon a track and to load into a car stationed upon the track in the rear of the machine, a frame comprising spaced side bars pivotally mounted on the truck to swing radially thereon, a carriage mounted on the pivoted frame for traveling movement on said side bar, an elevating conveyor carried by said carriage inclined downwardly and forwardlybetween said side bars, a hopper pivoted on said carriage and into which the elevating conveyor discharges, a loading conveyor inclined upwardl and rearwardly from said hopper and pivoted therewith, and means to advance and return the carriage along the length of the pivoted frame.

8. A loading machine including a truck adapted to travel upon a track and to load into a car stationed upon the track in the rear of the machine,a frame comprising spaced side bars pivotally mounted on the truck to swing radially thereon, a carriage mounted on the pivoted frame for traveling movement on said side bars, an elevating conveyor carried by said carriage inclined downwardly and forwardly between said side bars, a hopper pivoted on said carriage and into which the elevating conveyor dis-'' charges, a loading conveyor inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said hopper and pivoted therewith, and means to advance and return the carriage along the length of the pivoted frame, and means to swing the pivoted frame upon the truck to vary the radial angle at which said loading'conveyor is advanced, the pivotal mounting of the hopper and loading conveyor permitting the same to be adjusted to discharge into the car. a

9. A loading machine including a truck provided with a pivot bearing and having an arced rack at the forward end thereof around said pivot bearing, a frame including elongated spaced side bars -pivotally mounted on the bearing of said truck, a carriage mounted to travel upon said side bars, a motor' on said carriage, an elevating conveyor carried by said carriage inclined downwardly and forwardly between the side bars of the pivoted frame, an adjustable brace by which the inclination of said elevating conveyor is varied, racks provided on said side bars, spur gears operated from said motor mounted on the carriage and working in'said racks to move the carriage along the length of the side bars, and a gear carried by said pivot frame in mesh with the curved rack of the truck to swing said frame and consequently vary the radial angle atprovided with a pivot bearing and having an arced rack at the forward end thereof around said pivot bearing, a frame including elongated spaced side bars pivotally mounted on the bearing of said truck, a carriage mounted to travel upon. said s1de bars, a motor on said carr age, an elevatmg conveyor carried by said carriage inclined downwardly and forwardly between the side bars of the pivoted frame, an adjustable brace by which the inclination of said elevating conveyor is varied, racks provided on said" side bars, spur gears operated" from said motor mounted on the carriage and working in said racks to move thecarriage alongthe length of the side bars, a gear carried by said pivoted frame in mesh with the curved rack of the truckto swing said frame and consequently vary the radial angle at which the elevatin conveyor is advanced from said truck, a opper pivoted on said carriage into which the elevating conveyor discharges, and. a loading conveyor mounted upon and extending rearwardly from said hopper.

11. A loading machine including a truck, a carriage mounted on the truck for forward I traveling and return movement, an'elevating conveyor pivoted uponand extending forwardly from said carriage, a shoe carried in the receiving end of said elevating conveyor, a breaker head mounted across said shoe, means to move said carriage forwardly upon the truck to force said shoe into the material to be loaded, and an adjustable braceconnected between said shoe and the carriage to'vary the height at which said riagemounted on said pivoted frame forshoe is advanced. v

12. Aloading machine including a truck having a pivot bearing, a frame including spaced sidebars pivotally mounted in the bearing of said truck, toothed rack bars secured longitudinally on said side bars,

"an arced rack associated with said truck around the-pivot bearing as a center, a cara sliding movement along the length of the side bars, a power motor mounted on said carriage, an elevating conveyor extending forwardly from saidcarriage inclined down- -wardlybetween the side bars, gear wheels mounted on the carriage meshing with the rack bars and receiving revoluble movement from said motor to cause the carriage to be said truck.

13. loading machine including a truck having a pivot bearing, a frame including spaced side bars pivotally mounted in the bearing of said truck, toothed rack bars secured flongitudinally on said side bars, an

arced rack associated with said truck around the pivot bearing as a center, a carriage mounted on said pivoted frame for sliding movement along the length of the side bars,

a power motor mounted on said carriage,

an elevating conveyor extending forwardly from said carriage inclined downwardly betweenthe side bars, gear wheels mounted on the carriage meshin' with the rack bars and receiving revolub e movement from said motor to cause the carriage to be moved along the length of the side bars, a squared shaft journaled on one of the side bars, an operating gear mounted on said squared shaft to move with the carriage and having inter-geared connection with the motor thereof, a gear wheel on said pivotedframe meshing at the curved rack 'of the truck, .a power connection from said squared shaft to said gear, a power connection from the squared shaft arranged to propel said truck,

'a hopper pivotally mountedon said carriage into which the elevating conveyor discharges, and a loading conveyor extending rearwardl therewith.

14. A loading machineadapted for use upon a mine track to load coal to a car stationed upon the track in the rear of the machlne includinga truck adapted to travgl ce on the mine track and having a curved rackat its forward end, a frame including spaced side bars pivotally mounted on said truck at .the center of said rack, a gear wheel carried by said pivoted frame in mesh with the curved rack, rack bars car- 4 ried by said side bars and extending throughout the length thereof, a carriage slidably mounted on said bars, spur gears revolubly mounted on said carriage in mesh 110,

with the rack bars, a pivoted elevating con-' veyor inclined downwardly and forward] from said carriage, a shoe mounted at the receiving end of said con'veyor,a breaker head mounted across said shoe, an adjustable brace by which the elevation of the shoe and breaker head is varied, a motor mounted on said carriage, driving connectlons from said motor to the spur gears in mesh with the elongated and curved racks of the pivoted frame and truck, and to the wheels of said truck, and controls by which said driving connections are thrown in and out of gear.

15. A loading machine adapted for use upon a mine track to load coal to.'a car stationed upon the track in the rear of the machine including a truck adapted to travel on the mine track and having a curved rack at its forward end, a frame iny from said hopperand pivoted 95 eluding spaced side bars pivotally mounted on said truck at the center of said rack, a gear wheel carried by said pivoted frame in mesh with the curved rack. rack bars carried by said side bars and extending throughout the length thereof, a carriage slidably mounted on said bars, spur gears revolubly mounted on said carriage in mesh with the rack bars, a pivoted elevating conveyor inclined downwardly and forwardly from sald carnage, a shoe mounted at the receiving end of said conveyor, a breaker head mounted across said shoe, .an adjustable brace by which the elevation of the.

shoe and breaker head is varied, a motor mounted on said carriage, driving connections from said motor to the spur gears inmesh with the elongated and curved racks of the pivoted frame and truck, and to-ith e wheels of said truck, controls by which said driving connections are thrown in and out of gear, a hop er pivoted on said carriage beneath the discharge end of the elevating conveyor, a loading conveyor inclined hpwardly and rearwardly from said hopper and pivoted therewith, and

driving connections from said motor to each of said conveyors for constant operation of the same.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signa- I WILLIAM WVILLCOX,

.ture. 

